Uncinatectomy: a novel surgical option for the management of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas.

An intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) is a rare cystic lesion of the pancreas, comprising only 1% of all pancreatic exocrine neoplasms. The prognosis for these lesions is typically favorable as compared with invasive ductal carcinomas. Nevertheless, the management of IPMTs involves surgical resection due to their malignant potential. When located in the pancreatic head, the conventional treatment for IPMT is pancreatoduodenectomy. Some authors have advocated limited pancreatectomy for low-grade IPMTs of the pancreas, thereby decreasing the morbidity of more extensive resection. In this report, we describe our technique of minimal pancreatectomy, whereby the uncinate process and associated branch duct were completely extirpated while preserving remainder of the pancreatic head, duodenum, and pancreatic ducts. The case presented underscores the feasibility and advantages of minimal pancreatic resection in the management of such tumors.